A report from the Pioneer Mission Stations Tour in honor of the 80th Anniversary in SIM Niger:

We praise the Lord for so many answers to prayer and for evidence of God's work throughout the three weeks of celebrating the 80th anniversary of SIM in Niger. We reminisced and gave thanks to the Lord for His mercy in bringing the Gospel to Niger. The presence of fifteen returning pioneer missionaries really made the celebrations a blessing and success. We thank God for bringing each one safely and for giving strength and endurance along the way. We also give thanks for the missionaries at each location who worked so hard to make the retirees' visit a memorable one. And we were blessed by all the Nigeriens who celebrated their return and honoured them with visits and expressions of appreciation.

Wilf and Esther Husband were the first of the retirees to arrive on November 12. Carey and Shirley Lees (my parents), their daughter Joyce Nickel, and Ray and Doris Pollen joined them a few days later. As I watched Ray being wheeled from the Air France plane, tears came to my eyes, and I was overwhelmed by God's goodness and answer to prayer. Ray and Doris Pollen, who opened Guesheme station in 1953, already had their tickets purchased for the trip to Niger when Ray, 83 years old, had to have emergency surgery. Much prayer went up around the country that he would be restored to health in time for the celebrations. God answers the prayers of His people!

On Thursday, November 18, we formed a convoy of a 4-wheel-drive and a 9-seater van: Husbands, Lees, Nickel, Pollens, Jonathan Burt, Eliane Martinez, and Gordon and I.

Guesheme (opened in 1953)

After traveling a couple of hours on pavement and almost an hour on dirt roads, we pulled into Guesheme station where a crowd of joyful believers welcomed us. They had walked from surrounding villages 15 km away to greet their spiritual father and mother, Ray and Doris Pollen. After a tasty meal of couscous and African sauce, we had a special celebration together. We showed the Memories PowerPoint, and Ray and Doris brought greetings and a Bible challenge in their well preserved Hausa. What a joy to hear how the number of believers had multiplied over the years! How encouraging to find in this one group at least 18 evangelists representing outpost churches where there were none 80 years ago. After a tour of their very basic Literacy and Preparatory Bible School buildings, we headed for Dogon Dutse.

Dogon Dutse (opened in 1945)

After driving over dusty rough roads for a couple of hours, we arrived at Dogon Dutse at 7:00 p.m. We were weary and ready to find our rooms at the local Magama Hotel. We hoped to rest until our meeting the next morning with the area churches. Dropping off the retirees, Gordon went across town to greet the pastor only to discover a large crowd of church people gathered in the dark waiting for the meeting. They thought it was that evening! Some had even arrived the night before. Being the pioneer missionaries that they are, the retirees rallied and headed over to the meeting by 8:00 p.m. What a special evening of fellowship and Nigeriene Gospel music to the rhythm of tam tams. We returned to the hotel around 11:00 p.m. to eat our sandwich supper.

In the morning we enjoyed a bread and Nescafe breakfast and a time of prayer and praise together out on our sand patio. We visited with church people again who presented the retirees with computer crafted honorary 80th Anniversary certificates. They took us to tour two different partially built churches waiting for funds to roof them. Together we prayed that God would bring in the remaining funds. The visit to Guesheme and Dogon Dutse was of particular encouragement and blessing to the churches because they are off the beaten track with no resident missionaries for years.

Galmi (opened in 1950)

Three hours later, we drove into Galmi Hospital compound where Guest House staff Carol Botheras and Alicia Lau warmly received us. For the next three days we were pampered with meals, potlucks, tea times, and good visits until it seemed we were back at Miango Rest Home! At Galmi, retirees Burt and Ruth Long, Maurice and Marthe Glover, Virginia Fridal, and Gillian Reynolds joined us. The time at Galmi included a tour of the hospital and the new Galmi Christian Primary School, and a Sunday evening of sharing memories with the pioneer missionaries.

The Galmi celebration in the PMI building was an exuberant affair with joyous singing and sharing from the retirees. The Memories PowerPoint was a big hit with a lot of cheering and laughing as very young versions of church leaders and hospital workers were flashed on the screen. Dr. Burt Long, founder of Galmi Hospital, brought a good Hausa message and challenge.

The next morning was an even more enthusiastic time as around 400 believers from both (formerly rival) churches gathered for the dedication of the new UEEPN church building. They expressed how honoured they were to have their pioneer missionaries with them for this special occasion. The music was dynamic, and their dancing down the aisle to give the offering was exuberant.

Madaoua (opened in 1947)

Monday morning the tour set out for Maradi stopping en route at Madaoua for the celebrations there. Madai, widow of the first pastor Hassane, shared her memories of the challenges of the early work in Madaoua alongside Alvin and Lolita Harbottle. She talked about the outreach on horseback to Gidan Arna (Home of the Pagans). This village is now basically a Christian village, and many believers across Niger have their roots in Gidan Arna. They requested to change the name of their town to Home of the Christians, but the government declined.

Maradi (opened in 1940)

At Maradi John and Anne Ockers and their son Jim joined the group. The Ockers worked in Maradi and the surrounding area from 1949-1985, founding Maza Tsaye Farm School in 1958. Many groups of alumni and friends came from far and wide to see John.

Pastor Seyni introduced the celebration in Maradi by telling a story. He explained that when he was a little boy, he was part of a group of Koranic disciples at Guesheme. One day when their little group was chanting the Koran under a tree, Ray Pollen came to visit. He had asked the marabout (Koranic teacher) if he could read something to them from God's book. Out of politeness, the marabout agreed, and God's words deeply affected Seyni. Soon after that, he ran away to the mission compound so he could learn from the missionaries. He grew up to work with the missionaries as an evangelist in the Guesheme area, and now he is a godly pastor in Maradi. His joyful spirit of thankfulness set the tone for a meeting of rejoicing.

Phil and Carol Short had been colleagues of many of the retirees and have just returned after a 13-year absence to investigate ministry opportunities among the Fulani. They joined the group for the Maradi, Goureacute;, and Zinder celebrations. During the next three days the retirees visited Dogon Gao (Danja Bible School), Danja Leprosarium (1953), Maza Tsaye, Soura Girls School (1952), Tsibiri (1928), and Aguie Bible School (1963). Today the Bible School is a pastor's refresher school.) God gave strength to interact with hundreds of believers. From Maradi, the retirees split up to go to different stations of interest.

Gouré (opened in 1964)

Carey and Shirley Lees, Joyce Nickel, and Gordon and Judy Evans traveled on to Gouré on Thursday, November 25, where the Christians and villagers joyfully welcomed them. During the next two days, a steady stream of visitors came to pay their respects. Two hundred, including the chief of the Fulani, came to the Saturday night invitation supper put on by the believers. What a contrast to the arrival of the Lees family in the middle of the night in 1964 when no one welcomed them and when most doors seemed closed against them.

Zinder (opened in 1924)

Sunday afternoon, November 28, we traveled back across the unspeakably rough, pot-holed road to Zinder to celebrate with the churches there. A big banner flew outside the compound and cake was served. One of the older church leaders had prepared a chronological history of the mission work at Zinder, starting with the opening in 1924. A meal was served to 300 people at the end of the celebration service.

One of the highlights was staying in missionary Leonardo Navarra's former house now made into Hotel Murna! We were touched to see how Niger had honoured Leonardo when we visited his grave in the French Military cemetery.

Tahoua (opened in 1951)

While some of us visited east Niger, retirees Maurice and Marthe Glover, who spent their many years in Niger amongst the Tamajaq, made a trip north with Jean Baumbach to celebrate with the Tahoua church. They also visited the Waltons in the outpost of Tchintabaradan.

Niamey (1972)

Back in Niamey Tuesday night, tired but praising the Lord, we had a lot of scrambling to get ready for the Niamey events. We added a series of photos of the 80th celebrations to the end of the Memories PowerPoint to present the fruit that God has given over the years. Our joint church tent celebration Sunday morning, December 5, at Centre Biblique was a heart-warming experience. It far surpassed our expectations! There were about 750-800 present. The communion time was amazing. What a joy to be celebrating together as SIM-related churches after so many years apart!

December 10 & 11: Official 80th Conference

SIM International Deputy Director Jon Shea brought a word as well as other church and mission leader representatives from surrounding countries. The government of Niger's Ministry of Interior representative and the Governor of Niamey were present along with other officials. They heard a good Gospel message by Pastor Baragé, and the Governor gave a gracious speech of appreciation to SIM and the churches. He asked for prayer for Niger. National TV and various radio stations broadcast parts of the program. As the conference continued Friday night and Saturday, December 10-11, the spirit got warmer and more exuberant. The Saturday coffee time and the noon meal offered times of fellowship. About 400-500 attended the meetings at any given time. Many were touched by the history of sacrifice and perseverance that the pioneer missionaries (Lees, Glovers, and Virginia Fridal) and nationals alike (Pastor Sanoussi, Abdou Galadima) endured to take the Gospel to them. The stories they brought, as well as the Memories PowerPoint of old missionary photos, made a lasting impression.

The churches were touched that all these elderly missionaries would make the trip back to Niger to visit and encourage them. Nigeriene believers expressed a heightened awareness of how it is now up to the churches to carry the Gospel to their own people. It was encouraging to hear each church association describe its vision and strategy for the future of the work in Niger. Pastor Alhasane, EEI pastor and president of AMEEN (Association of Evangelical Churches and Missions), brought the closing message with a strong challenge to go forward by prayer together.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts (Psalms 145:3-4).